Electronic poker style video game

ABSTRACT

An electronic poker style video game is disclosed. The game has hardware and software for receiving input from and providing output to the user. Using computer hardware and software, a first portion of each card hand in a plurality of card hands is dealt. The user places a first wager on any one or any combination of the card hands. The remaining portion, which can include one or more interim portions and a final portion, of the card hands is dealt. The winning hand is determined. The user is paid a sum based on the user&#39;s wager, if any, placed on the hand that became the winning hand. The electronic poker style video game of the present invention may also be networked to other electronic poker style video games of the same type operate in a tournament mode.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to video games. More specifically, the present invention relates to video poker games.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Electronic video games, specifically video card games, come in a variety of playing styles and formats. However, these games have two basic configurations. The first configuration is a solitaire configuration, where a user plays alone to accomplish the goals of the game. The other basic configuration is a competitive configuration, where a user plays their card against the cards of another to accomplish the goals of the game.

Some video poker games are of the competitive configuration, that is a user plays against other players, be they real or computer controlled, to obtain the best poker hand. Whether the other players are real or computer controlled, the user is limited to controlling and wagering on only their own hand. In situations where the other players are real, such as in online poker rooms, play can be agonizingly slow as the user has to wait for other players to take their turns. Playing against computer controlled players can be faster, but again, play is limited to only the user's hand.

Most video poker games, such as those found in many casinos and available in various formats are of the solitaire type. In these games, a user attempts to assemble a single good poker hand. Assembling the single good poker hand is typically accomplished using “draw” style poker, that is a user is dealt a hand (usually five cards), the user selects which cards they wish to keep and which cards they wish to discard, the user is then dealt cards to replace the discarded cards. The user typically places a wager before the cards are dealt and plays only the one hand of cards. The user's payment on the wager is typically determined as a function of the wager on the hand the rank of the final hand of cards. Ranking of card hands typically uses a standardized poker ranking, such as three of a kind beats two pair, and so on, up to a royal flush being the highest hand.

Furthermore, there has been a recent increase in the interest in a poker game called Texas Hold'Em. In this game, which is competitive in configuration, each player is initially dealt two cards face down; these are referred to as the players pocket cards. After the initial cards are dealt, a round of wagering ensues. After the initial round of wagering, “community” cards, that is cards that are shared by all players, are dealt in three stages. The first stage of community cards, called the “flop”, consists of three cards. The second stage of community cards, called the “turn”, consists of one card. The third stage of community cards, called the “river”, also consists of one card. A round of wagering is completed after each stage of community cards. In televised Texas Hold'Em events, the viewer sees all of the cards that are dealt. Many times, the probability of each player winning the hand is also displayed to the television viewer.

There remains a need for an electronic poker style game that can combine solitaire and competitive configurations of card play. Specifically, there remains a need for an electronic poker style game that combines the solitaire and competitive configurations of card play in a video poker game suitable for the gaming industry. More specifically, there remains a need for an electronic poker style game that combines the solitaire and competitive configurations of card play using the Texas Hold'Em format. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an electronic poker style game that can combine solitaire and competitive configurations of card play. Specifically, is would be advantageous to provide an electronic poker style game that combines the solitaire and competitive configurations of card play in a video poker game suitable for the gaming industry. More specifically, it would be advantageous to provide an electronic poker style game the combines the solitaire and competitive configurations of card play using the Texas Hold'Em format.

SUMMARY

In view of the deficiencies described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic poker style game that can combine solitaire and competitive configurations of card play.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronic poker style game that combines the solitaire and competitive configurations of card play in a video poker game suitable for the gaming industry.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronic poker style game the combines the solitaire and competitive configurations of card play using the Texas Hold'Em format.

The present invention is an electronic poker style video game. The electronic poker style video game has hardware and software for receiving input from a user and providing output to the user. The electronic poker style video game also includes computer hardware and software for running and controlling game play.

Using the computer hardware and software a first portion of each card hand in a plurality of card hands is dealt. After the first portion of each card hand is dealt, the user is allowed to place a first wager on any one or any combination of the card hands. This wagering can be done in a variety of ways, including where the user may permit the computer hardware and software to place the wager on the user's behalf.

After the user's wager is placed, the remaining portion of the card hands is dealt. The remaining portion can include one or more interim portions and a final portion. In variations where there is at least one interim portion of the card hand dealt, an interim wager may be placed, using any of the wagering processes described above.

After all the cards in each of the card hands of the plurality of card hands are dealt, the winning hand is determined. The user is paid a sum that is based on the user's wager, if any, that was placed on the hand that became the winning hand.

In various preferred embodiments, the sum paid to the user is determined from the wager placed on the winning hand multiplied by a multiplication factor that is determined by a rank assigned to the winning hand.

The electronic poker style video game may also provide information to the player during game play.

The electronic poker style video game of the present invention may also be networked to other electronic poker style video games of the same type operate in a tournament mode.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are preferred embodiments, which will herein be described in detail, of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention is an electronic poker style video game. The electronic poker style video game has hardware and software for receiving input from a user and providing output to the user. The input can include coin acceptors, paper money acceptors, and or card readers, all known in the video game art, for activating the game. The input can also include one or more control input devices, such as buttons, knobs, wheels, and the like. Again, control inputs of these types are known I the video game art. The output can include audio and video output, using video displays and sound computer generated sounds channel through a speaker system. Outputs of these types are known in the video game art. Output may also include a ticket dispenser or printer for paying out the users winnings.

The electronic poker style video game also includes computer hardware and software for running and controlling game play. Using the computer hardware and software a first portion of each card hand in a plurality of card hands is dealt. In various preferred embodiments there are four card hands to be played.

After the first portion of each card hand is dealt, the user is allowed to place a first wager on any one or any combination of the card hands. This wagering can be done in a variety of ways. The user's wager may or may not be limited by the game. For example, the user may be allowed to place any desired wager on any one or any combination of hands that the user selects. The user's wager, may be limited by the size of the user's bank, that is the amount of money the user has available to play with prior to the first portion of the card hands being dealt. The user may wager by distributing a predetermined amount, such as a predetermined number of chips or a certain monetary value, among the card hands. For example, the user may be required to distribute four chips of some predetermined value among the hands.

In various predetermined embodiments, the user may permit the computer hardware and software to place the wager on the user's behalf. For example, the computer hardware and software may be allowed to determine which card hand is more likely to be the winning hand at the end of the game and place the user's wager on that hand. In the event that two or more hands are equally likely to be the winning hand, the user's wager may be split between those hands.

After the user's wager is placed, the remaining portion of the card hands is dealt. The remaining portion can include one or more interim portions and a final portion. In variations where there is at least one interim portion of the card hand dealt, an interim wager may be placed, using any of the wagering processes described above.

After all the cards in each of the card hands of the plurality of card hands is dealt, the winning hand is determined. The user is paid a sum that is based on the user's wager, if any, that was placed on the hand that became the winning hand.

In various preferred embodiments, the sum paid to the user is determined from the wager placed on the winning hand multiplied by a multiplication factor that is determined by a rank assigned to the winning hand. For example a single pair may have a low multiplication factor, while a royal flush has a very high multiplication factor. In some embodiments, the multiplication factor for each hand rank can be adjusted by the game operator, that is, the person who owns and or administers the game. This feature allows the operator to adjust the user's anticipated return from the video game. In the gaming industry, this is referred to as making the game more loose (more return) or more tight (less return).

The user may be paid the sum in a variety of ways. For example, the user's winnings may be credited back to the user to permit continued play. The user may be paid in tickets, coupons, vouchers or the like, which the user may redeem for various goods or services. The user may also be paid in points, which are used to score the user's performance. Where permissible, the user may also be paid in a monetary form.

The electronic poker style video game may also provide information to the player during game play. For example, the game, may inform the user of the current best poker hand in each card hand of the plurality of card hands. The user may also or alternatively be informed of the potential best poker hand in each card hand of the plurality card hands. The user may also or alternatively be informed of the probability of each card hand of the plurality card hands of being the winning hand.

The electronic poker style video game of the present invention may also be networked to other electronic poker style video games of the same type operate in a tournament mode. In tournament mode, the play performance of the user is compared to the play performance of other users in the tournament. Play performance can be based on performance, such as amount won or lost, over a given time period or over a given number of hands dealt to each user.

When operated in a Texas Hold'Em format, the electronic poker style video game of the present invention would operate as follows. A first portion of each card hand on the plurality of card hands is dealt. The first portion has two cards for each hand. A first wager is placed by the user using the various wagering processes described above. A first interim portion of three cards to be shared by each card hand of the plurality of card hands is dealt. A first interim wager is placed by the user. A second interim portion of one card to be shared by each hand of the plurality of card hands is dealt. A second interim wager is placed by the user. The final portion of one card to be shared by each card hand of the plurality of card hands is dealt. The winning hand is determined and the user is paid if the user had wagered on the winning hand.

While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is limited by the scope of the accompanying claims. 

1. An electronic poker style video game comprising: means for receiving input from a user, means for providing output to said user, computer implemented means for dealing a first portion of each card hand in a plurality of card hands, means for allowing said user to place a first wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands after said first portion is dealt, computer implemented means for dealing a remaining portion of each card hand of said plurality of card hands, computer implemented means for determining a wining card hand from said plurality of card hands, and means for paying a sum to said user, wherein said sum is determined at least in part by a wager, if any, on said winning card hand.
 2. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein allowing a user to place a first wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands comprises computer implemented means for determining which card hand of said plurality of card hands is more likely to result in said hand being a winning card hand and automatically placing said first wager on said card hand.
 3. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein allowing a user to place a first wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands comprises allowing said user to place a first wager on more than one card hand of said plurality of card hands.
 4. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein allowing a user to place a first wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands comprises allowing a user to distribute a predetermined amount among any of said user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands.
 5. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein dealing a remaining portion of each card hand of said plurality of card hands comprises at least one interim portion of each card hand of said plurality of card hands and a final portion of each card hand of said plurality of card hands.
 6. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 5, where said game further comprises means for allowing said user to place at least one interim wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands after each of said at least one interim portion is dealt.
 7. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 6, wherein allowing said user to place at least one interim wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands after each of said at least one interim portion is dealt comprises computer implemented means for determining which card hand of said plurality of card hands is more likely to result in said hand being a winning card hand and automatically placing said interim wager on said card hand.
 8. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 6, wherein allowing said user to place at least one interim wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands after each of said at least one interim portion is dealt comprises allowing said user to place an interim wager on more than one card hand of said plurality of card hands.
 9. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 6, wherein allowing said user to place at least one interim wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands after each of said at least one interim portion is dealt comprises allowing a user to distribute a predetermined amount among any of said user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands.
 10. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein said game further comprises means for informing said user of the current best poker hand in each card hand of said plurality of card hands.
 11. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein said sum paid to said user is further determined by a multiplication factor applied to said wager, if any, on said winning hand, and wherein said multiplication factor is based on a rank assigned to said winning hand.
 12. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 11, wherein said multiplication factor can be assigned by a game operator.
 13. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein means for paying a sum to said user, wherein said sum is determined at least in part by a wager, if any, on said winning card hand comprises means for crediting said user for continued play.
 14. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein means for paying a sum to said user, wherein said sum is determined at least in part by a wager, if any, on said winning card hand comprises means for distributing tickets to said user.
 15. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein means for paying a sum to said user, wherein said sum is determined at least in part by a wager, if any, on said winning card hand comprises means for crediting points to said user.
 16. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein said game further comprises means for communicating with other electronic poker style video games of the same type and computer implemented means for comparing the play performance of said user of said electronic poker style video game to users of said other electronic poker style video games of the same type.
 17. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 16, wherein comparing the comparing the play performance of said user of said electronic poker style video game to users of said other electronic poker style video games of the same type comprises comparing the play performance of said user of said electronic poker style video game to users of said other electronic poker style video games of the same type over a predetermined time period.
 18. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 16, wherein comparing the comparing the play performance of said user of said electronic poker style video game to users of said other electronic poker style video games of the same type comprises comparing the play performance of said user of said electronic poker style video game to users of said other electronic poker style video games of the same type over a predetermined number of card hands being dealt.
 19. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 5, wherein said first portion comprises two cards dealt to each card hand of said plurality of card hands, said interim portion comprises a first interim portion of three cards shared by each card hand of said plurality of card hands, a second interim portion of one card shared by each card hand of said plurality of card hands, said final portion comprises one card shared by each card hand of said plurality of card hands, and said means for allowing said user to place at least one interim wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands after each of said at least one interim portion is dealt comprises a first interim wager placed after said first interim portion is dealt, and a second interim wager placed after said second interim portion is dealt.
 20. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 19, wherein said game further comprises: means for allowing said user to place at least one interim wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands after each of said at least one interim portion is dealt, wherein allowing a user to place a first wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands comprises allowing a user to distribute a first predetermined amount among any of said user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands, and wherein allowing said user to place at least one interim wager on any user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands after each of said at least one interim portion is dealt comprises allowing a user to distribute a second predetermined amount among any of said user selected card hand of said plurality of card hands.
 21. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 19, wherein said game further comprises: computer implemented means for determining which card hand of said plurality of card hands is more likely to result in said hand being a winning card hand and automatically placing said first wager on said card hand, computer implemented means for determining which card hand of said plurality of card hands is more likely to result in said hand being a winning card hand and automatically placing said first interim wager on said card hand, and computer implemented means for determining which card hand of said plurality of card hands is more likely to result in said hand being a winning card hand and automatically placing said second interim wager on said card hand.
 22. The electronic poker style video game according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of card hands comprises four card hands. 